Eco-Challenged - A Trip Report

“As many of you may or may not know, I've been training for an eco-challange for the past 3 months, with 9/29 being the day of the race. I resigned my presidency in HMWH Club, because I couldn't keep up with the obligations that the position holds, due to my training regimine.

We arrived on Saturday in Portsmouth Ohio. My team, (sponsored by a bar of course) Mickey & Eileen, and myself and Nancy. We ate a good meal, and reviewed the topo map to see what we were in for (my team were not experinced hikers or mountain bikers or kayakers.... except for me, so I had to explain the topo map to them.)

RACE DAY - I'm pumped, we have 3 teams in our division, and they all looked beatable. We started the race (Shawnee State Park, OH) with a 7 mile trail run, with elevations between 800 - 1,200 ft., it was rough, but we did well, and were leading coming into the mountain biking phase with our competition out of sight.

The mountain biking phase was 19 miles, and consisted of 3 miles of trail riding on rocky, rooty terrain, and then the next 16 miles of fire road riding that was extremely hilly. The biking was my strongest phase of the race, so I led the team. ABout a mile into the phase, I breifly looked back to see if my team was still in tow, when WHAM! Something stopped my front tire, and held it, cold. I did a header, landing squarely on my right kneee, and almost flying over a cliff. I grabbed my bike before it went over, and got up to survey the damage. The knee was sore, and felt funny, but I was ready to go..... until, the dirt jarred loose from the 2 1/2" gash and the blood started pouring. I rinsed it out with watre bottle and instructed one of my teammates to butterfly it up, so I could continue. (If I dropped out of the race, we would be disqualified) I made it another 100 yards, my sock drenched in blood, and my knee in severe pain, my race was over. I told the team I'd get stitched up at the ambulance, and for them to continue, fo rI'd catch up.

I got to ambulance, and they took me straight to the nearest hospital, digging twigs and rocks out of my knee, it was GREAT! After X-Rays and 10 stitches, and a shot of morphine (the wound went to the bone) I was sent on my way back to the race, as a spectator of course.

When I arrived the announcer gave me a special welcome over the PA, and my team had just returned from mountain biking portion. We were disqualified, but they continued and went on to finish in 6 hours. They came in second in our division, but couldn't get the trophy's becuase of me. they did, however, get finishing medals, and I too was offered one, but turned it down becuase I didn't felt I deserved it after the effort they put forth.

I'm proud of my team, and bummed that we couldn't take 1st, but there is always next year.

My hiking season is over for the next month, but I have plenty of pain killers and TT to keep me company.

BTW - The guy who won the solo, did the event in 3.5 hours. Total Race milage:
Trail run - 7 miles
Mountain Bike - 19 miles
Obstacle course - 1 miles
Lake swim - 1.5 miles
Lake Orienteering run - 1 mile
Kayaking - 3 miles
Final run - 1/2 mile.

34 miles total.”

“my misspellings are all attributed to piankillers!”

“That's cool, BB. Not the injury of course but that ya did it.

Did you ever find out why you endo-ed?”

“I bet the injury looks pretty cool though. Pictures?”

“Sounds awesome, BB! Bummer about your accident though...

I've been looking into "adventure racing" for next year. It looks like a lot of fun and a nice way to stay motivated in my training.

Maybe next year I'll join you in Ohio. That sounds like a good distance and a good combination of events.”

“Hip Hip Hurrah





Hip Hip Hurrah






Hip Hip Hurrah






Congrats BB”

“too bad about the injury (can we see it?) but the race sounded cool!”

“Congrats BB, that's very cool you did the race.. sucks you got hurt, but what can ya do? Besides, if you're going to get injured, it might as well be while doing something cool, like an eco-challenge. Awesome that you entered.”

“Sounds like a lot of fun except for the injury of course. We tried to get in one here in AR but have so far been unable to find a female willing to race.”

“Sorry to hear it BB.

Remember those moments when you got the silly notion that it was nothing and you could go on? And the pang of pain that told you you were busted?

Desire cannot stop physical reality.

In my case I could feel the two pieces of bone clicking when I tried to stand on the leg. That was that.

Welcome to the club and heal soon. Do you have a cast we can sign?”

“wow, that's pretty hard-core! nice thread title, too :-)”

“Hey Buddha Bear –

Be sure to let us know how that eco-challenge thingy turns out. Sounds like it will be cool! Good luck!”

“LMAO Violin. Lortab, good stuff. No cast gobeet, I guess I'm lucky in t6hat regard. How's your leg healing?”

“Sorry to hear of your misfortune, BB. At least you had the stones to give it a go. Better luck next year.”

“What you did took a level of commitment that many folks never get to test, I'm sorry you didn't finish, but ya did the right thing and that sometimes takes more guts then doing what your heart tells ya.. ....we're proud of your team as well.

I really like Geobeet's words of wisdom..."Desire cannot stop physical reality"....may have to add that below the...."If the pain don't kill ya, it'll make ya strong".... logo on some of my T-shirts.”

“i'll see you next year. you know i don't live far from you, right? i just decided to get into it a few days ago, and im pumped. gotta get me a kayak for practicin though.
swimmin's my biggest shortcoming right now, mostly cause i've never really swam before. besides playin in the pool, that is.
gonna have a good scar?”

“Sorry to hear of your misfortune, BB. At least you had the stones to give it a go. Better luck next year.”

“WTG BB. Must of been hard to have to stop...you did your best when you could though and that takes guts.”

“BB I am glad that you are an upstanding competitor and didn't take that medal. Get 'em next year!! Nice trip report, sorry about the knee!!”

“Way to go BB!

p.s. I thought eco challege would have something to do with cleaning up the environment.”

“Hey Buddha Bear, I'm sorry that you gashed up your knee, but you made a terrific effort to do something that a lot of people couldn't even attempt if they wanted to. You certainly seem like a much tougher hombre than you did a year ago. Good luck with the healing and hope you find success at the eco-challenge next year.”

“hell ya buddha, and on the other thread I thought you've just been on the knees to long!




j/k ouch!”

“Leg is coming along. I have accidentally put weight on it to keep from falling down several times. I think the broken fibula has mended. Dislocated ankle is still a concern. I see the doc in a week to see how it's going. If okay, I can walk on with cast, boot, and crutches preparatory to getting cast off. Should be another two to three weeks, then rehab and the daily dose of rat poison.”

“bubbha bear....

sorry to hear about your untimely misfortune....i was looking forward to visiting with you at the roaring plains....hope you get all better soon....

tell me more about this eco-challenge....is it a relay type of thing or does each competitor complete all of the events?? sounds very interesting and challenging....

take care and beware (of the gravel roads)!!”

“BB, LOSER!!!! You didnt just "walk it off"??? just kiddin man.
Sounds like a good race. HFP does a heck of a job settin them up eh? Sorry bout the knee, lortab is some gooooood stuff though. Think positive. Maybe some pity sex from a hottie and a cool scar may help you score in your next adventure race...

I had planned on the same race but backed out due to a big committment this wknd...

heal quick.”

“Wow! That sounds like a fun race!

Bummer about the accident, though. I once ran a trail run, twisted my ankle after passing the 3rd female at the turnaround, and had to be carried down on a litter. It only takes a second for something like that to happen! I got a bottle of champagne for being last off the mountain.

Hope that knee heals fast!”

“I think Buddha Bear's painkillers could explain a great deal about what has been happening here!!”